I love General Conference

Does anyone else feel this way?
The week before Conference, I anxiously await Saturday and Sunday. I record all sessions of Conference and since the last one, 6 months ago, I've watched them several times and am ready once again to "set at the feet of the Prophets"!
We are blessed in that we can stay at home and "sit at the feet of the prophets" so if we want we can watch in our "jammies". I'm not sure if I can do that this conference because we have the Missionaries from our Ward living with us. I think they might even put on a white shirt and tie to watch with us, maybe I should at least get dressed.
Sooo who is your favorite Conference Speaker??? I really like Elder Nelson and Elder Oaks, Gene's favorite is Elder Holland and we are looking forward to hearing more from our newest Apostle Elder (can any of you remember) Andersen. President Monson is always a welcome speaker, I love our Prophet and am always very happy to hear from him!!
Let me know how you watch Conference and who your favorite speakers are. I hope all my dear family is "anxiously engaged" in Conference this weekend.
Here's some Prophet trivia: How long was it after Joseph Smith was martyred that President Brigham Young was sustained as Prophet?
Now how long after Brigham Young died was President John Taylor sustained?
One more after John Taylor died how long until President Wilford Woodruff was sustained?
So who was the Prophet that was sustained within days of the former Prophet's death?
That practice has continued to this day and we always know who the Lord has put in place, or chosen, to be Prophet on earth at any given time.
Let me know your answers, there may be a "prize" for the winner!!
Relax this week and enjoy Conference, however, do NOT call me between 9 and 11am and 1 and 3pm Pacific daylight time either day, because I probably won't answer the phone and I'll know you are not watching!!

More Randam Thoughts about Family

I really need to get back to family history. The other day I wondered into http://www.new.familysearach.org/ and looked up my family. My Wilcock (maiden name) line was "done" sometime in the 1940's. The Wilcock organization hired a professional from England and then proceeded to do the temple work based on the findings of this professional. Funny thing though, on closer inspection the father of Edward Wilcock I is found in an area faraway from the rest of the family. After discussing it with some cousins we decided that it just was not correct. So, every once in a while I go into this line and see if I can do anything, so far no luck. Maybe it's correct, I don't know.

Anyway I did this the other day and found my Edward Wilcock II had an "extra" child. Edward married Elizabeth Partington in 1823, this child listed is named Jenny Partington born 1821. Do you think she is Elizabeth's child born out of wedlock (heavens forbid) or that somebody made a mistake. The sources come from the church's extraction program and one individual that has no contact information. I guess I'll have to get back into research, because this is bothering. Interesting thing is that this child is sealed to Edward and Elizabeth, but her endowment is still waiting.

There was another problem as well, they have Edward's father, Edward I, married to Ann Stone, I have primary evidence that he was marred to Ann Newton. Soooo now the fun begins, maybe it's time I get of the dime, and get back into the research mode and got some work done. I guess I've been "retired" too long, time to go back to work.

Here is a picture of William Wilcock, my great grandfather, it's not that far back is it?? You would think I could find something. Wish me luck!! JP

More from Utah

Would you have loved to have had a "playground" when you were growing up?? My big son has created such a dream for his 3 younger children. Here is a video of these 3 little muggles in their Private playground.

Jim has 2 older girls, ages 19 and 20. I commented to Jim that by the time these 3 were tired of the playground, he could have grand children. Here is a picture of "the Cousins" while blessing a new girl cousin. We missed Melanie, but Emily is now "big" enough to be included.

So fun to have family together, for any occasion. Probably won't happen again this year. Well we can hope for next year.

Well that's enough for now, I never know what to write, any suggestions???

Finished A Christmas Project

While in "The City" last month, my sister and I started a Christmas Project, and today I finished it. When RosaLee and I get together, we usually start a project, it was fun choosing fabrics with her. (out of her fabric stash)

Then we invited Jamie (RosaLee's grand daughter) and Tasha (My grand daughter) to help us with the fabrics for the letters. Here is a picture of my finished project. I, of course, had to emblish with the lights on the tree. Let me know what you think????

Random Thoughts

When we arrived back on Emogene St. this last week, the "dreaded" traffic signal was working, dang (they plugged it in).

When we moved to this neighborhood in 1982, we were in the country and loved living in the "country" with the advantages of being very close to the "city". Now we find ourselves in the city, sad days!!

When we first moved in, I think there was a stop sign here, but almost no one bothered to stop. Now, of course, you must stop - too many children and cars. Notice the hills in the upper part of the picture, can you see a hill for the houses?? Well the houses were not there in the 80's there were just "high green hills" and we thought they would never be developed.

The park is still there, with it's wonderful trees, man made lakes and some wild life, but most of the ducks, birds, coyotes and other wild life have moved away - back to the country. I guess that's one perk for having the traffic light, now we can cross to the park somewhat more safely, maybe??

OK, OK, enough crying over spilled milk, I guess in order to live in the "country" you have to move to Panaca, I don't think the city will ever get that far???

Another thought!!!

I was putting my "Fall Stuff" out the other day, I love fall colors and the fall weather etc., you all know that so I have quite a bit of "fall stuff". It's time to put the beach away and pull out the fall.

I needed a table topper and didn't have one, (mostly because I cut up my fall table cloth and made place mats) I pulled out a "wall hanging" that my sweet daughter made for me as her first quilt project, I usually hang it. However, this time it became a table topper and it's perfect - what do you think?

So the table runner ended up on the piano.
Anyway I'm all ready for fall, now if only the weather would cooperate, I'd be good to go for awhile.

I guess that's enough for now, when I get back to this, I'll finish up my time in Utah, with pictures of some of my adorable grands, I know you are all looking forward to that.

Horray it's here!!

Fall I mean, I love Fall, especially the cooler weather. I'm saying that tongue in cheek because the weather here is not cooler.
We returned from Panaca, and Utah on Tuesday after Labor Day. My Mom is doing well, she has "graduated" to a cane which she uses for the first couple of steps after getting up, then she carries it around with her. I think in a couple of weeks she will be on her own.
My Brother and his wife is still in Panaca with her (Bless his big, generous, heart, he has no idea how much I appreciate him) when Mom is well enough he will return to New Mexico!
Then we went to Utah and spent some time with my "big" son in Harriman, and stayed a couple of days with my sister in Sandy. Then on to Farmington, Utah where we participated in blessing Troy and Nicole's new baby. Here is a picture of Miss Jemma Troi Fernley on her blessing day.
Later when I download the pictures from the camera, I'll post some pictures of my other Grands, but for now you only get Jemma.

One last post before I leave

I spent time with my Mom in St. George, Utah, last week. When you leave St. George to get to Panaca you drive over Meadow Mountain and then to Enterprise, Utah, turn right to Burel Junction, Utah, then left to Panaca it's about 100 miles.

We left St. George one evening just at dusk, and got over the first pass when we received a "gift" to break up our drive. The day had been cloudy, the sun was setting between the clouds. Now for you California folks, this is not "smog" sunsets. Just the clouds and clear sky, enjoy my "fire in the sky". See you in a couple of weeks!!!

A few new pictures of Jemma

Stephanie, Jim's wife, said when they went to see Miss Jemma, that Troy was so protective of her that she hardly got to hold her. I can understand that he always was an over-protective father. I wonder if Tasha gets much of a chance to spoil her little sister. I guess Nicole get her when it's feeding time. Anyway, Troy did send a few more pictures and here they are.

I'm trying to decide which one to print and post on my wall, let me know which one you like best????

I'm going back to Panaca this weekend, Mom is coming home from rehab. I want to see if I can help her get re-acquainted with her home and walking without pain. So I'll see everyone in a week or so.

It's a baby

Meet my new grand daughter, Jemma Troi Fernley, born yesterday July 26, 2009 at 5:57pm Mountains Daylight Time. Weight 7lbs, length 20in. Mom and baby doing fine. Dad sounded a little overwhelmed, haven't talked to big sister yet. I'm sure Tasha will have her tagging along after her very soon.

More trees, mountians, lakes, trees ---

We really did see a lot of beautiful country in the Canadian Rocky's'. I'm going to post the best pictures so you can get the gist of what this was about. Then I'm off to Panaca to take care of "my poor old widowed mom" so probably won't get back to this for awhile.

Cameron Lake, the top of this mountain is part in Canada and part in Montana, USA. I didn't realize the "Continental Divide" was in this area. At the top of this mountain, Custer Mountain, can you think why? This is the Continental Divide, interesting where the divide divides, the water runs different ways. One lake will run east to the Atlantic Ocean and in the same ares another will run west to the Pacific Ocean and there was another that I really cannot remember.

Wild Goose Island in Glacier National Park - Montana.

A 1936 "Jammer" buss, we went up "the highway to the sun" about 7,000 ft. and the top of the Continental Divide, I think. Don't hold me to anything I tell you I could have been "vacation shock" about now.

Logans Pass, top of "highway to the sun" also top of the Continental Divide.

I think this is Lake Louise, but it might be Molena Lake, they are both equally beautiful.

We walked on the Columbia Glacier!!

We stayed an extra day and ended our trip at the Edmonton Temple.

Hooray we're home!!! I have a hard time with "sight seeing vacations" I get so bored, but I survived this one and it was beautiful. We saw lots of mountains, lakes, glaciers, trees, lakes, mountains, did I mention trees? Well you get the gist.
We went to Calgary (the natives pronounce it Cal Gary)before out tour began so we could catch some of the Calgary Stampede. The Stampede is really just a big fair with a rodeo attached. The evening show was very long after the Chuck Wagon Races but they were fun. I had never seen a Chuck Wagon Race and it was quite entertaining. Here is a video of one race, they have 9 every night, Let's see if this works, if not you will have to use your imagination.



The next day we had to do "The City Tour" of Calgary, it was a 4 hour tour of things I'm not too interested in but muddled through, we went to "Fort Calgary" the beginning of the North West Mounted Police. Here is my sweetheart pretending he will eventually "Get his Man"!

He's the one in the middle, not the one checking out what is inside his nose.


The tour included a visit to the "ice house" where they train for the bobsled race for the Olympics. That was kind of interesting, also up to the top of the ski ramp. Calgary hosted the Olympics in 1988 and are in process of updating their equipment to comply with recent technology. They seem to be very proud at hosting the Olympics in 1988 and now in 2010 they will be held in Vancouver.

That afternoon after "The City Tour" we went back to the Stampede to see the Rodeo. I don't understand "grown up men" is there such a thing? trying to kill themselves by riding a bucking horse or bull. I try very hard to stay away from such animals. All I got of this afternoon was video of bucking horses, nothing too interesting. However if you want I'll download them for you - let me know.


The next day we began our tour. We went with Caravan Tours, if you ever get the urge to ride on a bus, sorry coach with 20 or more couples that are fairly "up in age" try a tour. We did enjoy the tour, I think that last comment was a warning because we fit right in. You may be touring with us. The first stop was Fort McCloud another beginning of settling Western Canada. The North West Mounted Police (Mounties) were on horseback here and the horses did some pretty amazing things. I guess there was so little to do that the "Mounties" practiced and practiced, here is a picture of Fort McCloud.


They did some pretty amazing stuff on these horses. They did some "formation" riding, I can't think what it's called, with music and put on a pretty good show.


From there we started on the really scenic part of the trip. We headed to Watertown Lakes National Park. We stayed in Watertown which is only about 35 minutes from Cardston and the Cardston Temple. Watertown is so small that there are no cars to rent or no taxis to take you anywhere, the bus driver Bo was reluctant to loan us the bus and we tried to contact several members in the area but it just didn't happen. Anyway here are a couple pictures of Watertown and surrounding areas.


Watertown Lake, it was very windy there and somewhat chili. The temperature was about 55 degrees, the altitude 5,500 ft high. So cool and windy but very beautiful.

Next is Watertown falls, can you see the deer in this picture? In Watertown the deer roam all over the town. There is wire around any shrub or flower so the deer doesn't destroy everything. There were a lot of doe and faun combinations but we didn't see too many buck. They looked like Mule deer but they were very small so I'm not sure what they were.

Now here is a picture of Watertown, a very quaint village that caters to tourists in the summer and all but about 40 residents leave in the winter.

They make the best fudge in this little store. It was right off the stove, very fresh and very delicious and very expensive, but what the hey, we were on vacation!!

I think that's enough for now, I'm still trying to get the pictures labeled, but thought I would give you a taste of where we were. Next post you will see lots of trees, lakes, falls, critters mountains, lakes well you get the idea.

Last post for a while

This is the only photo I can find for Elizabeth Brown Wilcock. Second wife of William Wilcock and my great grandmother. Everything I've read about Elizabeth is that she was a kind and loving mother to William's 5 older boys and also to her own 4 sons.

Elizabeth was born 3 March 1833 in Bolton, Lancanshire, England. Elizabeth's mother Alice Fowler Brown was "betrothed" to a man named Samuel Barrow. No one knows what happened but they never married. When Alice's parents, James & Betty Brindle Brown found out she was pregnant she was disowned and thrown out on her own. Elizabeth was born in a cellar with no one to help her mother. Can you imagine giving birth in such circumstances and being so young as Alice? Alice was 16 years old.

Elizabeth knew her own father, Samuel Barrow, and was given employment in his home as a servant. She always spoke well of him, calling him a respectable, kindly man with a good family. Elizabeth later worked in a cloth factory as a loom weaver.

A story is told that a man forced his attentions on her and she became pregnant, her daughter was named Mary Alice Brown, she was living with her mother and step father George Boardman. The baby died at age 2 years.

Elizabeth joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints after hearing missionaries at a street meeting. Later she and her friend Margaret Williams saved enough money to travel to the U.S. and eventually cross the plains to Salt Lake City. Margaret married in Salt Lake but Elizabeth moved south to Parowan and there married William Wilcock.

Shortly after marring William, Elizabeth was able to send money to England so her mother and step father could join her in America. George Boardman died before leaving England, but Alice came to Parowan and Elizabeth enjoyed the companionship of her mother for many years. Alice Flower Brown Boardman is buried in Parowan.

Elizabeth was a small, frail woman, many wondered how she managed to take care of her 9 boys and her husband. She was happy and contend, she died at age 60 in 1893 in Parowan, Iron, Utah.

Back to business

When I originally started this blog it was for Family History, I've kind of gotten away from that but while doing some filing of research notes I've got a new ancestor for all of you to meet!

William Wilcock, my great grandfather, also my immigrant ancestor. There are a lot of fun stories about William. He was born 10 October 1830 in Ince, Lancanshire, England - he died 5 September 1906 in Parowan, Iron, Utah. Any of you that go to Parowan, can check out the old rock church now owned by the DUP in Parowan and I'm told that his picture is there. William was one of the first to be sent to Parowan and he raised his family there.

William had two wife's (not at the same time) the first was Elizabeth Sharp, and together they had 5 sons.

His second wife (my great grandmother) was Elizabeth Brown, they had 4 sons. Elizabeth B. had a daughter before she immigrated to Utah. The daughter was born out of wed lock and died in England. William had that little girl sealed to him and Elizabeth.

There are many fun stories about William: He was a member of the Parowan Choir and many years served as its leader. The choir went to conference in Salt Lake in a wagon. One time while they were camped near American Fork, people from the town joined them, and a jolly time ensued. A comic song contest was sponsored. Wilcock and a man by the name of Laycock were the singers. First one then another would make his contribution. Finally Laycock sang a song that set the whole crowd roaring with laughter. Wilcock follow up with the song "I couldn't help laughing it tickled me so" It was such a fitting climax that all agreed Wilcock was the winner.

Due to his heavy work on the turning lathes and large machines in the machine shops. William leaned to one side as he walked, however, as a young man his five foot and eleven inches was admired by the young girls. Before he left England a piece of metal flew up and hit one eye, he was blind in that one eye. Later in life he caught another piece of metal or wood in the other eye and was totally blind for many years. He would carry peppermint candy in his pocket to bribe the children of the town to guide him where he needed to go.

He and his sons had a saw mill "up the canyon", after William became blind he turned the mill over to the boys. One time the mill was not working right, the boys took their father up to the mill to see if he could advise them what was wrong. He sat and listened to the mill and told the boys what was wrong and how to fix it.

That Saw Mill stayed in the family for many years, I remember my Dad talking about his dad working up there and my Uncle Alma recently wondered if we could find it again.

William for his own amusements made an all brass locomotive. So small that it set in the palm of your hand. It was a perfect model of locomotives used on the railroad at the time and would run around on the floor by its own power. It generated its own steam and use a cylinder. This locomotive is in the museum at the St. Louis, MO. he also made a tiny up and down cylinder, stationary steam steam engine it would set on a 50 cent piece, but it would still produce power.

There are many more fun stories about William, if you look in any books on Parowan and/or Iron County, you will find William mentioned. He was a very prominent man in Iron County, Utah

Here is an older William:

I never planned to be this old!!

I never thought I would be 60 years old, but this week I will be considered a "Senior Citizen"! With that title there are some perks, I hope! I didn't in my wildest dreams, when I was young, think I would be this old, however, it's here so I may as well celebrate.


I really was a "cute" little kid, here are some pictures to prove it. Here I am in 1944.

One year old in 1945


1946/47 Daddy brought me pearls from Germany!





Lets jump ahead, here I am on my 10th birthday. June 1954, we lived in Lynndyl, Millard, Utah.



1956, 12 years old, where do you think all that hair went. I remember washing it at night so it would be dry for the next day, I think this was in Tintic, (Eureka) Utah.


1960, Caliente, Lincoln, Nevada. Looks like I'm growing Up.





17 years old, another younger birthday!!!



1962, Senior High Picture, do they still do feathers? I did get rid of most of the hair.


Childhood is over, here I am Married with child, I will end up with three wonderful children. This was a very long time ago, and it happened very fast.
This picture was taken in San Diego, California. My husband was a sailor.


Then Divorce Happened, I never ment for that to happen either, here is my family in 1975.


We were and still are "a happy Family!!!"



Re-Marriage in 1978, I inharited 4 more girls! Yikes! - double yikes! But we muddled through.
Gene and I have been muddeling trhough for over 30 years. I think I'll keep him.
Then I became a grandma, I love being a grandma! Here we are 4 generations of girls, I'm the old one in the middle, Nana is holding Melanie. This was taken 18 years ago, in Panaca, Nevada.
And now I'm a great grandma, I love being a great grandma. I'm the really, really, old looking one!!




I have ended up with 7 children, 3 my very own, 33 grandchildren, with one on the way 16aand 1/2 my very own, and 5 and 1/2 great grandchildren, and they are all my very own.
I have a lot to celebrate this year, turning 65 has been a great blessing. I thank the Lord for all my blessings, especially my family.

Pets

Yes! Loralie won that last post. This time I think it will be fun to post some of the pets we've had in the past. The first one I remember was a short haired terrier named Baby. Baby, would steel our candy and go behind the coal stove, where we could not get to her, and eat it.

I thought I had a picture of Baby, but I guess not. Baby was 17 years old when she died I was 19 and no longer living at home. Anyway here is an earlier pet that I do not even remember. Looks like her name is Poochie. We were good with names weren't we??

Next pet is Fluffy, not to be confused with Hagrid's 3 headed dog named Fluffy, this Fluffy is a Pickenese. Here is Mom and Fluffy.

Here is a different pet! When living in Lynndyl we raised a lamb and called her Rosie. She disappeared in the fall and I'm pretty sure we had mutton chops most of the winter.

We decided it would be good for the kids to have a dog. So we went to the Shelter and got a puppy. We never did figure out what to name him, so he became known as Pup. I told you we were good at names. Pup was very protective of the kids, he was small but mighty!! Uncle John had a large Dog, I think a German Shepard, Pup would stand between Joe's front legs and bark at everything, hoping Joe would back him up!!

Charlie, we are getting better at names, was a full size poodle mix. White, and fluffy. We had him for a long time. He was raised by our cat "Mother" and he fought like a cat. He was really good at getting rid of unknown cats, but never bothered Mother. I don't have a picture of Mother, she was called Mother for obvious reasons, but also, she trained all her kittens to the litter box. It was easy to give them away, they were cute and already trained.

We didn't have too many cats, but here is one, I don't remember where he came from, but his name is "Hitler". Look closely you will see why. This picture is taken in Cudahy, or maybe Pioche in about 1966.

One more interesting pet we had was Cinderella, I was working for a Lab Supply House and these little guys were free. Actually some of them got out and we had them all over the warehouse in a not very long amount of time. When Cinderella would get out of her cage, and she was out often, we would find her in my Tupper Ware. Not too good for the Tupper Ware! If I didn't want to be bothered at the pool in the apartment complex we lived in, I would just take Cinderella with me, even men didn't like her. Can't think why.

Last one I have a picture of is Bundy, see we did get pretty good with names. Bundy was a Silky Terrier, small and cute, but wirery. Took to running away and going to a particular home in the neighborhood, finally we just let him go. The people liked him and I was tired of chasing him. Bundy part of the family whenever we could keep him home.

Hope you enjoy my line up of pets, we have had others, James like birds and had a couple of them. Other Various and Sundry dogs. But now Gene and I have none, and I'm really good with that. Gene is enough to care for.